Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,
I hope that you all had a blessed Easter. Of all the ways Jesus could have greeted the apostles on Easter Sunday and after he chose four simple words: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).
The apostles were not in the most peaceful state when Easter Sunday dawned. Not only had they seen Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, but they also experienced their own weakness and lack of faith. Rather than hold on to his promise that he would rise again, they gave in to fear and doubt. Scattering at Jesus’ arrest, they hung back during his trial and crucifixion. Then they went into hiding, worried that the authorities would come after them. By all accounts, they had failed Jesus.
But when Jesus appeared, he didn’t bring up the painful, embarrassing events of the past few days. He didn’t even mention them! Instead, he just wished them peace. He didn’t want a relationship marked by vengeance, retribution, or anger. All he wanted was for us to be at peace with him.
Two Kinds of Peace. What do the words “Peace be with you” say to us? They say that no matter how many times we sin, no matter how grievous our offenses are, God stands ready to forgive us and release us from guilt. He does this so that we can experience the peace that comes from being reconciled with him. As long as we stay with him, his peace will stay with us.
Now, the peace that comes from Jesus is not the same as the peace of this world (John 14:27). The world’s peace depends on favorable circumstances: our getting our way, things going as expected, with maybe a few manageable problems. That sounds nice, but as soon as things go awry, this type of peace tends to dissipate, leaving us anxious and fretful.
By contrast, the peace that Jesus brings helps us face troubling circumstances without becoming swallowed up by anxiety or anger or fear. It brings a quiet confidence to our hearts that guides us as we face challenging decisions. It’s a peace that depends not on the events of our day but on the boundless love of the Lord: “I belong to Christ, and I know that he will never abandon me!”
Jesus’ gift of peace is meant to spill over into our relationships with each other. Immediately after telling the disciples, “Peace be with you,” Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Jesus is sending us out, asking us to treat each other with the same mercy and love that he has shown us.
(This reflection is taken from The WORD Among Us.)
Sincerely, Fr. John Samuel
